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Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae

Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2002.

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Other Authors: Scholtz, Clarke H.
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2021
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Scholtz, Clarke H.
author_browse Scholtz, Clarke H.
author_facet Scholtz, Clarke H.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2002.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/82465
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:06.885Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2021
publishDateRange 2021
publishDateSort 2021
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/82465 Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae Scholtz, Clarke H. Chown, Steven Loudon Harrison, James du Guesclin UCTD dung beetle Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2002. The phylogenetic validity of Pachysoma Macleay, 1821, is assessed. Cladistic analysis of 64 adult characters from 37 taxa comprising all Scarabaeini genera (except the monotypic Madateuchus Paulian, 1953) and two outgroup Canthonini genera, resulted in some currently recognised genera (i.e. Sceliages Westwood, 1837; Kheper Janssens, 1940; and Drepanopodus Janssens, 1940) being recognised as paraphyletic. Pachysoma comprises a monophyletic clade of highly derived Scarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758. To further nomenclatural stability within the Scarabaeini, Pachysoma should best be considered a subgenus of an expanded genus Scarabaeus. Neopachysoma Ferreira, 1953; Mnematium Macleay, 1821 and Neomnematium Janssens, 1938 are maintained as synonyms of Scarabaeus s.l. The unique biology of Pachysoma is interpreted as an adaptation to arid conditions, and is presumably derived from ball rolling and wet dung feeding. Aridification of the Namib Desert is postulated to have initiated the evolution of Pachysoma from a Scarabaeus-like ancestor, while dune movement accounts for their current distribution. The evolutionary history of Pachysoma is discussed based on the phylogenetic analysis, and distributional and biological information. The subgenus Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) Macleay, 1821 is revised. All thirteen species of the subgenus are endemic to the west coast of southern Africa. A key to all S. (Pachysoma) species is provided, and their distributions are mapped. Two new species Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) endroedyi and Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) glentoni from the southwestern Cape are described. The subspecies S. (P.) denticollis penrithae (Zunino) is synonymised with S. (P.) denticol/is denticollis (Peringuey). The synonymy of S. (P.) hessei (Ferreira) with S. (P.) hippocrates (Macleay) is confirmed. S. (P.) valef/orae (Ferreira) previously considered a synonym of S. (P.) schinzi (Fairmaire) is reinstated as a valid species. The missing type series of Pachysoma hessei Ferreira is traced. A lectotype is designated for Scarabaeus aesculapius Olivier, three paralectotypes are designated for Pachysoma marginatus Peringuey and one paralectotype for Pachysoma denticolle Peringuey. Notes on the type series, distribution records, morphological variation and known biology, are provided for all flightless Scarabaeini. A checklist of all valid species and their synonyms of Pachysoma, Neopachysoma, Mnematium and Neomnematium is included. KEYWORDS FOR THESIS RETRIEVAL: Insects, Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, Scarabaeini, Afrotropical, Pachysoma, Neopachysoma, Mnematium, Neomenmatium, Scarabaeus, Kheper, Sceliages, Drepanopodus, Pachylomerus, cladistic, phylogeny, endemic, dung beetles, flightless, food preference, dry dung, detritus, psammophily, relocation strategy, systematic revision, biology, distribution. Zoology and Entomology MSc Unrestricted 2021-11-02T10:19:33Z 2021-11-02T10:19:33Z 2021 1999 Thesis * http://hdl.handle.net/2263/82465 © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
dung beetle
Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae
title Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae
title_full Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae
title_fullStr Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae
title_full_unstemmed Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae
title_short Systematics of the endemic south-west African dung beetle genus Pachysoma Macleay (Scarabaedae: Scarabaeinae
title_sort systematics of the endemic south west african dung beetle genus pachysoma macleay scarabaedae scarabaeinae
topic UCTD
dung beetle
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/82465